Make a Wish: Meaning, Examples, and How to Use It

Meaning 1：make a wish (Make a wish)

Make a wish 🔊

/meɪk ə wɪʃ/

phr. v.

To express a hope for something you want to happen, often done on special occasions.

Person making a wish while blowing out birthday candles

make a wish 🔊

➕

/meɪk ə wɪʃ/

phr. v.

To express a hope or desire for something to happen, typically in a ceremonial context like a birthday or when seeing a shooting star.

📁 Category：Culture & History 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Phrase composed of 'make' (to create) and 'wish' (a desire). No root changes.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of closing your eyes and making a wish on a birthday cake: 'Make a wish' starts with the same letter as 'Moment of Hope'.

📖 Example

Before blowing out the candles on her birthday cake, she closed her eyes to make a wish. 🔊 Before blowing out the candles on her birthday cake, she closed her eyes to make a wish.

🔗 Collocations

make a wish upon a star – Express a desire while looking at a star, hoping it will come true

make a birthday wish – Make a wish on one's birthday, often while blowing out candles

grant a wish – Fulfill someone's wish or desire

🔄 Synonyms

wish for (phr. v.) – To hope for something to happen or be true

hope for (phr. v.) – To desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfillment

express a desire (phr. v.) – To state what one wants or longs for

🚫 Antonyms

disregard (v.) – To pay no attention to; ignore

reject (v.) – To refuse to accept, consider, or use

🌱 Derivatives

wishful (adj.) – Having or expressing a wish or longing

wisher (n.) – A person who makes a wish

📖 Cultural Story

The tradition of making a wish before blowing out birthday candles dates back to ancient Greece, where moon-shaped cakes were offered to Artemis. Modern practice was popularized in 18th-century Germany.